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What is a business sales representative and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Experts
Kim Chatani,
John Cicala Ph.D.
introduction image

Are you up for a new adventure that will get you rewards? Whether you're trying to move your career in a different direction or continuing your sales career, working as a business sales representative could be the perfect career for you. You will create partnerships with current and established consumers to drive sales and raise sales.

Business sales representatives approach prospective buyers in a number of industries to clarify the advantages of a certain product or service. They also approach former clients in order to renegotiate rates or the terms of a service agreement. From time to time, they follow up with consumers in order to ensure their complete compliance with the deal. Business sales representatives usually collaborate with a team of sales agents or administrators to support staff and provide customers with information and technical knowledge. The goal is to create partnerships with current and established consumers to drive sales and raise sales.

Generally, a high school diploma is required to work as a business sales representative. However, if the representative is interested in specialist materials, such as surgical devices or pharmaceuticals, then an appropriate degree in this area might be useful. They typically earn cash bonuses beyond their salary with commissions that compensate for their hard work.

What general advice would you give to a Business Sales Representative?

Kim Chatani

Assistant Professor, Concordia University Irvine

The career path for graduating students is full of unpredictability, as we have seen during this COVID 19 pandemic. In addition to academic excellence, graduates will face challenges that will test their core principles and beliefs. My advice is to view each challenge you meet with a long-term perspective while addressing the immediate concerns in a balanced way. Your career will span decades, and what you may face during the first several years will only be a fraction of your professional career. View how your immediate decision may impact you in the long-term.
ScoreBusiness Sales RepresentativeUS Average
Salary
4.6

Avg. Salary $58,288

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
7.1

Growth Rate 4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.23%

Asian 5.16%

Black or African American 3.85%

Hispanic or Latino 14.30%

Unknown 3.71%

White 72.74%

Gender

female 38.61%

male 61.39%

Age - 48
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48
Stress Level
7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
8.4

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
4.9

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Business Sales Representative career paths

Key steps to become a business sales representative

  1. Explore business sales representative education requirements

    Most common business sales representative degrees

    Bachelor's

    67.9 %

    Associate

    14.9 %

    High School Diploma

    8.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific business sales representative skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Business Sales13.43%
    Customer Accounts11.60%
    Customer Service11.50%
    Business Relationships10.90%
    Lead Generation10.84%
  3. Complete relevant business sales representative training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New business sales representatives learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a business sales representative based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real business sales representative resumes.
  4. Research business sales representative duties and responsibilities

    • Lead recruitment and marketing efforts via social media channels such as LinkedIn, Google+, Facebook, etc.
    • Generate qualify leads through B2B telemarketing services specialize in identifying and nurturing prospects for computer hardware, software and technology services.
    • Assist with coordinating and organizing marketing projects such as direct mail and team telemarketing initiatives.
    • Generate qualify leads through B2B telemarketing services specialize in identifying and nurturing prospects for computer hardware, software and technology services.
  5. Prepare your business sales representative resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your business sales representative resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a business sales representative resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Business Sales Representative Resume templates

    Build a professional Business Sales Representative resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Business Sales Representative resume.
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    Business Sales Representative Resume
    Business Sales Representative Resume
    Business Sales Representative Resume
    Business Sales Representative Resume
    Business Sales Representative Resume
    Business Sales Representative Resume
    Business Sales Representative Resume
    Business Sales Representative Resume
  6. Apply for business sales representative jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a business sales representative job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Business Sales Representative Job

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Are you a Business Sales Representative?

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Average business sales representative salary

The average Business Sales Representative salary in the United States is $58,288 per year or $28 per hour. Business sales representative salaries range between $31,000 and $108,000 per year.

Average Business Sales Representative Salary
$58,288 Yearly
$28.02 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do business sales representatives rate their job?

-/5

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Business Sales Representative reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2021
Pros

Cultivating relationships with customers and accessing customers needs , I like solving their problems with the product or service that I am pre selling to them before passing the lead to a sales executive.

Cons

I am passionate about my role as a BDR and there is nothing that I don't like. I don't like to be put in a box so to speak I enjoy reaching high and don't like to limited.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

Communicating and helping my clients.

Cons

The travel was extensive. Sometimes. It took more than month to close a deaĺ.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020
Pros

I love to engage the public and meet new faces. I enjoy explaining all of the benefits of the product I am selling, and making the customer feel important and well informed.

Cons

I don't like feeling like I haven't did a great at job at making customers feel comfortable and confident about where and who they are purchasing from.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.